Following a significant assault by Hamas which triggered a declaration of war, leading airlines have ceased operations to and from Israel. This comes amidst the nation’s aggressive retaliation, bombing over a thousand targets in Gaza, inciting reciprocated rocket attacks from Palestinian militants that have set off sirens throughout Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Video footage surfacing on the internet depicted a thick plume of smoke near a terminal at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport.
Ben Gurion bore the brunt of the unfolding hostilities with many scheduled flights either cancelled or delayed. The airport’s online flight board displayed a sparse number of flights, primarily run by El Al, Israel’s national airline, and others by regional carriers such as Pegasus Airlines of Turkey and Blue Bird Airways of Greece.
American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines were among the major carriers that temporarily discontinued their services after the U.S. State Department issued advisories warning of possible terror threats and civil unrest in the region. American Airlines announced the suspension of its Tel Aviv services until Friday, adding that the suspension could alter based on the evolving situation.
United Airlines permitted two scheduled flights to depart from Tel Aviv late Saturday and early Sunday, assisting any stranded customers, crews and employees. However, the airline stated that future services would remain suspended pending an improvement in conditions. Similarly, Delta Air Lines cancelled all its Tel Aviv flights until the end of October and advised passengers with cancelled tickets or those wishing to amend their travel plans to check the Delta app or website.
In response to the escalating conflict, airlines across Europe and Asia have temporarily halted their services, offering refunds and the option to rebook without additional charges. Air France stated on its website that it had suspended its Tel Aviv operations until further notice after coordinating with French and Israeli authorities. They stressed the ongoing monitoring of the geopolitical atmosphere to ensure maximum flight safety.
Germany’s Lufthansa announced the suspension of its flights to and from Tel Aviv until Saturday, citing uncertainty over the evolving security situation in Israel. The decision also affects flights by its subsidiaries, including Austrian Airlines, Swiss and Brussels Airlines.
Given the current situation, Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong’s primary carrier, has cancelled its Tel Aviv flights scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday. The airline emphasised its commitment to the safety of its passengers and crew and pledged to provide another update on Friday in advance of its third weekly flight on Sunday to the Israeli city.
Virgin Atlantic, Wizz Air, easyJet and the Dutch carrier KLM have also suspended their services, while British Airways plans to adjust its departure times. The UK’s budget carrier easyJet has paused operations from London Luton and Manchester airports to Tel Aviv, while Wizz Air has cancelled all flights indefinitely.
